Section: WEC

The car will also be put to the ultimate test at Le Mans in June.

ByKOLLES Racing, is pleased to announce its entry application in the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship including the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans in LMP 1 with
the newly developed 2015 CLM P1.

The team’s endurance division has been competing in motorsport for over 14 years and has a wealth of experience and knowledge gained from successful participation in WEC, F1, DTM and other formula series.

With a new gear box, new front and rear suspension, aerodynamic modifications and performance upgrades throughout, including significant weight reductions, the team
have made real progress on the CLM P1.

A learning process

Commenting on the season ahead, ByKOLLES Director of Operations, Boris Bermes said: “We learnt a lot last year, we faced many challenges but we made very good progress against the odds however we were aware that significant improvements
needed to be made for the 2015 season. The team has worked hard since the end of least season to produce, what I believe to be a highly competitive car. As always, I’m cautiously optimistic about this year but let’s see what testing brings.”

Nico Hulkenberg has tested a Porsche 919 Hybrid for the first time ahead of his World Endurance Championship debut with the German manufacturer in 2015.

Hülkenberg sampled the 919 at MotorLand Aragón on Tuesday and is set to race a third car in the 6 Hours of Spa in May next year in preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, alongside his Force India F1 commitments.

However, doubt was cast over Hülkenberg’s plans last week after the release of the 2015 Formula 1 calendar featured a provisional return for the Korean Grand Prix on the same weekend as the race in Belgium.

Porsche has not yet confirmed the drivers who will race alongside Hülkenberg in the third 919 next year.

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Mark Webber says he is “a lucky boy” after avoiding serious injury in his huge World Endurance Championship crash thanks to the angle of impact.

Webber, who won nine races in 12 seasons of Formula One before retirement last year, slammed into the wall during the final hour of the six-hour Sao Paulo race at the uphill left-hander after Juncao where he had a nasty crash at the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix. Webber’s wrecked Porsche was left in flames after colliding with Matteo Cressoni’s Ferrari GT but he gave the thumbs up to the crowd as he was stretchered away.

Webber was discharged from Bandeirantes hospital on Monday night but is expected to remain in Brazil for a couple of days before he is cleared to fly home to the UK. Cressoni, who was taken to the same hospital, was also released on Monday without serious injury and returned home to Italy in the evening.

Upon his release Webber tweeted for the first time since the accident and thanked fans for the support he had received.

Former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber said he was “pretty bruised” and had a “stinking headache” after a crash in a World Endurance Championship race.

Webber spent the night in a local hospital after the accident in Sunday’s Six Hours of Sao Paulo event.

“I’ve got no recollection of the accident or how it happened – the team is looking into the details,” he said.

“Thanks to the medical team at the track and here at the hospital who did a great job.”

Webber was concussed by the accident but said, via his website, he was being looked after “very well”.

The Australian, 38, who quit F1 in 2013 after 12 years, was racing for Porsche and expects to be competing in the series again next year.

“On a positive note it’s great that the boys in car number 14 managed to bring home the victory which is a fantastic way to finish off the season,” said Webber.

“I’m already looking forward to getting out there again next year.”

Race organisers said there had been a “serious” collision between his car and the Ferrari of Italy’s Matteo Cressoni.

A statement on his website added: “Mark is still under care at the hospital but is set to return to the UK later this week.”

The FIA, motor sport’s world governing body, said the race ended under the safety car following the accident.

They added: “Both drivers were taken to the circuit’s medical centre and, after initial examination, to the local Hospital Bandeirantes for further checks, their condition has been reported as satisfactory.”

Webber’s former F1 teams include Williams and Red Bull, where he raced alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. He enjoyed nine grand prix wins in his 12-year career.

British F1 driver Jenson Button tweeted: “Glad to see @AussieGrit is OK after his shunt at Interlagos @FIAWEC, that was a big one matey.”